Moving (1988)
*** (out of 4)
After getting the news that he's been laid off, Arlo Pear (Richard Pryor) must look for another job and finally finds one but it means he'd have to relocate his family from New Jersey to Idaho. At first they don't like the idea but what has to be done is clear so they head up to go West but run into one problem after another.
In my opinion Pryor was the greatest stand up comic in history. There really wasn't anyone better at that R-rated type of humor and he could take perfectly normal situations and turn them into comic gold. His stand up films are some of the greatest out there but sadly his talents really didn't translate to the big screen. His movies were mostly misses, which is too bad considering his talent. I know MOVING isn't technically a "good" film but I must admit that I have a nostalgic thing for it and for the most part it makes me laugh.
Again, if you're expecting a classic comedy or even a well-made one then it's best to not watch this film because it's kind of bland in ways and the direction is certainly lacking. What I do enjoy about the film is that it allows Pryor to play the nice guy that he has been doing throughout his career but they also let him enjoy a R-rating, which is something kind of rare for the actor. He really does a great job here playing the nice and calm guy who keeps having bad things happen to him until he snaps.
Pryor is great here and really works well with the role and there's also some nice support for him. You've got Randy Quaid playing a couple roles and he's a lot of fun as is Dana Carvey in his scenes. Both Beverly Todd and Stacey Dash are good in their roles and there's even a funny cameo by a legendary comedian that I won't ruin. There are some funny moments scattered throughout the film but I think the best moments are when Pryor simply snaps and goes on some foul-mouthed rants.
MOVING isn't a classic film and I'm not sure most people will enjoy it. I do find it to be rather charming in its own way though.
